(Looking rather disturbed) People, I got one, count 'em, one review for last chapter. If this chapter is a repeat, I really am going to put the minimum-limit-thingy back into place. I would like some recognition for the amount of effort I've put into this story. T.T

Darkspirals: Fun-fun-blow-things-up….(starts laughing) You're welcome!

Chapter 14

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Hours later, all the bodies and blood are cleaned away, music equipment once more set up on the worse-for-wear ring with Jin and Touya up in the rafters as lighting crew. Koto and Juri stand in the middle of the ring, dressed in very pretty, if rather short, dresses of amber and blue (respectively). Standing or sitting around them as their instruments dictate are the members of Pocky, dressed in their finest glitter-Goth regalia for their final performance as the hired entertainment for this year's Dark Tournament.

With one last audience-pumping shout of encouragement to the band the two apparitions hop off the stage, relinquishing it to the band. To the audience's surprise, no pulsing music instantly pounds from the speakers. Instead, Kohaku steps forward with a look of utter solemnity on her face.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming to the Dark Tournament and our last performance here at this year's Dark Tournament. For one of our last songs we'd like to do something different than our usual style so please forgive us if you'd rather not hear it. This was written just last night, and is dedicated to one of the fiercest and most protective people I know." Stepping back into place beside Cassie, Kohaku gives the nod.

An eerily haunting melody pours from the speakers, winding its way around and around the enclosed stadium. A simple pair of spotlights train onto the singers, as they take identical deep breaths and begin.

"Through toils I've labored with you by my side,
A guardian has always been thee.
Despite choices I've made and paths that I've walked
Still onward you're walking with me.

Spirit of fire heart and soul you're a maze
And lo! I despair of ever winning through.
One glance from thee and I sing in my cage,
And I wonder now what you will do."

Yusuke and Kuwabara content themselves with sly looks over at a stoic Hiei, who is too busy committing the song to heart to pay attention to two people he'd end up smacking anyway.

"Bound by the power of those deep crimson eyes,
And a smile that's rarely been seen.
You've caught me and kept me when I'd stand alone
But everything's not as it seems.

Spirit of fire heart and soul you're a maze
And lo! I despair of ever winning through.
One glance from thee and I sing in my cage,
And I wonder now what you will do.

There's no escaping this dreaming I don't want to try
No reason for me to break free.
Together we walk in a circle of power
And forever connected we'll be.

Yes, forever connected we'll be.

Forever connected…

Spirit of fire…"

Silence fills the stadium for several very long seconds as the players let the last notes die away before bursting into thunderous applause. Nodding her head to measure the beat, Kohaku launches them into their performance with a wild yell and the music takes off. An hour later Koto and Juri hop back onstage, gesturing for the rest of Team Urameshi to join their newest member and her band to do one last thing before the Dark Tournament can be declared over.

The audience quiets down as the six people cluster around each other, holding hands as a gesture of their friendship--Yusuke and Kuwabara made sure they're holding anybody's hands but each other's and Hiei's. The fire apparition's hands are claimed by a beaming Kurama and Kohaku as the group takes a final bow and make their wishes.

"I wish that we never have to participate in this farce they call a Tournament ever again," is Hiei's predictable wish.

"I wish Kuronue knew how much we miss him," Kurama whispers, thoughts filled with images of the wry bat apparition who had been as close as family to he and Aislin during their thieving days.

"I wish we could see him and that goofy smile of his again," Aislin chimes in, their eyes full of remembered pain. Kurama had had to leave his friend behind, while an astral-walking Aislin had had to watch him bleed his life away.

"I wish that I never have to fight someone like Toguro ever, ever again!" Yusuke's voice is very fervent. Kuwabara had nearly gotten killed because he, despite all of his training under Genkai, still had a hard time dropping his emotional walls that took up a surprising amount of the Spirit Detective's power.

"I wish I could beat Urameshi into the pavement, if only just once!" Kuwabara nearly shouts, challenge in the gaze leveled at Yusuke.

Kohaku's ardent wish? "I wish that I never get lost ever, ever again!!" A smattering of laughter from her team mates, though none from the fire apparition possessively holding her hand. One last round of applause, then the two announcers declare the Dark Tournament over for another year and everyone slowly starts filing out.

Yusuke turns to Kohaku with a broad smile. "Hey, Kohaku? Kohaku! Kohaaku!"

--

"Kohaku!" The wolf jolts awake to a smattering of laughter and a sympathetic smile from Kurama, blinking and rubbing at sleepy eyes. "Wake up, Kohaku-chan. We're here."

With a heart-felt groan, Kohaku looks around and finds herself still on the ship, the gang-plank just being lowered with a thunk. "Damn it all, I knew that was too easy."

"What are you talking about, baka onna?" As the Team walks down the gang-plank, Kohaku rolls her shoulders and her head to loosen muscles stiff from sleeping against a railing.

"I just had a really vivid dream just now, is all," Kohaku sighs, rubbing at the phantom pain lingering in her left hand. "And it ended just as we won the damn Tournament."

"There's a happy thought," Aislin tells her friend as she dumps the last unconscious demon overboard to awaken in the icy salt water. "How many did we lose?"

"That's why I said it was too easy. Only Kuwabara lost, and it was only, like, once."

"That shoulda tipped ya off right then," Yusuke laughs, and gets brained by an irate Kuwabara. The others watch, sweatdrops dangling by their heads as they watch their captain and his best friend disappear into a cloud of dust. Kurama shakes his head and kisses Aislin on the cheek, walking for the hotel.

"I'll get us checked in, aisuhana, everyone. Try to keep our two hotheads from getting into too much trouble, would you?"

"Sure thing!"

"Hn. Reduced to baby-sitting yet again." As Kurama disappears inside, Kohaku turns to Aislin.

"Hey, Aislin?"

"Hm?"

"Can you actually turn into a dragon?" Wide, startled turquoise eyes stare at her, snowy lashes blinking once, twice.

"Where did that come from??"

Kohaku shrugs. "I dunno. It was part of the dream I had. So…can you?" To Kohaku's surprise, Aislin appears to consider the question.

"You know…I'm not sure. I've never actually tried." Those captivating eyes slide back towards the hotel entrance and light with a soft glow. "Oh, look. Koi's got us checked in already. Shall we pull those two apart or let them tussle a bit longer?" Kohaku looks over to find Kurama waving at them from the glass doors, a smile even visible from here.

"Let them be. I do not feel like dealing with them or their stupidity." Instantly the fight in front of them stops, the two human boys having heard that purposefully loud comment spoken by the smirking fire apparition.

"Whassat supposed ta mean??"

"Yeah, shorty! Why don't ya insult us to our faces??"

"You're ugly." Kohaku and Aislin burst out laughing, leaning against each other as they make their way towards Kurama, trailing a smirking Hiei and two squabbling boys. Kurama hands each of them a key-card for their rooms and leads the way towards the elevator. Kohaku tenses, still half-expecting to see her friends from America walking up with sound equipment. Nothing. Well, nothing besides a lot of snobby, well-dressed millionaires and their trophy women/men and other Teams still dressed for street.

They make it up to their suite without trouble and settle in, waiting for tonight's opening ceremonies and the fighting that begins tomorrow morning at a unholy hour. Aislin is taking a sip of her iced coffee when something flashes in the corner of her vision. An ice-sculpted shuriken whistles through the air and sinks into the wall, trapping a sleeve edged with rhinestones to the pastel-painted surface. The owner of the sleeve just smirks and tugs it free with a small rip, examining the tear with a small moue of irritation.

"Dear me, this is going to be expensive to repair. Did you have to do that?" Hiei, perched on the window-sill, levels a razor stare at the demon. He's actually quite effeminate, with his long white hair tied back in a loose braid and large husky-blue eyes lined with kohl. He's dressed in a loose, poet-style white shirt edged with the rhinestone sequins that had caught Aislin's attention, slender hips and legs encased in painted-tight black pants.

"What are you doing in here, fool?"

The man laughs, a rich rolling sound that still seems practiced. "Why, checking out the competition, of course! And I am pleased to say that your team has not dis…appoin…ted…why is she staring at me?" This is in reference to Kohaku, watching each gesture of the demon with avid bronze eyes. Hiei snickers, remembering his ward's magpie-like tendencies.

"You're wearing sequins."

"And?"

Kurama smiles. "She is what is known as a glitter-Goth."

"Ah. Well, dear child, do you like my shirt?"

Dreamy smile. "Can I steal it?"

The bishie laughs again--this time it's a real sound of amusement, complementing the warm smile. "You are charming! I do hope my companions and I have a chance to compete against your team tomorrow. If you will excuse me?" With a graceful bow, the man turns and walks out. Kohaku settles back with her arms crossed on the back of the couch with a pout, eyes fading back to peridot green.

"I wasn't joking. That was a really nice shirt."

"I could swipe it for you," Aislin offers. "He can't be that good if I saw him before he had a chance to do anything."

"Hn." The koorime frowns at her opposite, still smirking in his seat. "For all you know, that fop let himself be seen. The fact that you saw him means nothing, snowflake."

"Bite me, porcupine head." And things degenerate from there. Kohaku slips off the couch when the two are forehead to forehead snarling at each other, and sidles over to Kurama.

"I'm gonna head down to the restaurant for dinner. Wanna come with?" Smiling, Kurama nods and signals to Yusuke and Kuwabara to follow them out the door, leaving the two 'combatants' to their argument. The four walk down the hallway and nearly trip over another demon, this one a pretty little cat-demon in cat-form. What gives her away is the ruby collar and the tiny wings protruding from her shoulders. To Kohaku's surprise Kurama gives the neko-youkai a respectful nod, which the feline returns.

"Kaichou."

"Kurama. Promising lot this year. I might even break a sweat if I was fighting. Good luck yourself, by the way. There are a couple of your old enemies in the teams this year--watch your back."

"He's got that covered," Kohaku confides with a wink at the startled neko. "And while Aislin's watching his back, Yusuke's watching hers, Kuwabara's watching his, I'm watching Kuwa's, Hiei's watching mine, and Kurama's watching Hiei's."

The cat lets out a snort of laughter. "Kurama! What odd company you keep these days! It'll be interesting to see how far you get in the Tournament. Jya ne."

"Jya ne." And they walk onward, Kurama's glances finding that Kohaku is giving him a curious look. "In case you're wondering, that was Mintoha Kaichou, one of my allies when I was Yoko Kurama. Any team she gathers would be one worth fighting."

----

Hiei and Aislin catch up with the rest of their team after the food's already been served, to find two plates of spaghetti already waiting for them, the koorime's portion cooled by a brief stay in the freezer. Kohaku is watching the two human boys in fascinated disgust while they slurp down the noodles with gusto, sauce smeared all over their lower faces. Her own oversized plate is half-empty and no sauce graces her fanged mouth, but a forkful of forgotten pasta is halfway there.

"You guys are absolute pigs," she tells them, finally remembering her mouthful and popping it in. "Hey, Hiei-san, Aislin-chan. Sit down and dig in."

"Hn." "Ooh, I love this stuff! What was it called again?"

"Spaghetti, aisuhana. A most interesting American dish."

"You guys have had pizza, right?"

"Pizza? Where??" Everyone laughs at Yusuke's eager search of the area around him. The rest of the meal passes in comfortable silence even through dessert, but finally Yusuke stretches and gives everyone a lopsided smile. "Okay, people, let's get the snooze-fest over with."

----

"Hello again, ladies and gentlemen! And welcome to this year's Dark Tournament!" The gathered teams roar, only to fall silent with Koto's next words. "Unfortunately, the blood-shed won't be started until after we get the usual boring but oh-so-important rules and regulations out of the way. First announcement; there's been an adjustment in the clause concerning those fighters even close to 'S' class. Would those our aura-seers pointed out please step to the left of the stage?"

Grumbling, Aislin and Yusuke split off from their friends and wander over with the handful of others to where several robed people--humans and demons alike--wait with strips of faintly-glowing gauze. While the restrictive seals are placed on them, Koto the fox-girl and walking Tournament rule-book lists out the offenses not to be committed. It's just the usual: no fighting outside the sanctioned matches, no cheating, blah, blah, blah. In the previous year every one of those rules were broken, and against Yusuke's team, no less. Even Koto looks bored during her spiel, voice a monotone as she recites rule after rule.

The bishie demon that had 'visited' their suite is there--actually, he's one of the ones that got pointed out by the Committee's 'aura-seers' (the unofficial name is bloodhound)--and he waves to Kohaku with a smile. The wolf apparition's eyes instantly lock onto the sparklies attached to cuffs and shirt-collar with a crow's avarice. The bishie laughs, only faintly heard this far away, and walks over once the barely visible scarves a robed female drapes on him disappear against his skin.

"Ah, and so we meet again! Forgive my rudeness before, I have yet to introduce myself." He seems not to hear Kohaku's murmur of 'ooh, sparkly!' and inclines his torso in a courtly bow. "My name is Glace Corbeau, at the lovely lady's service." Kohaku turns bright pink when the male catches her hand and brushes silky lips across her knuckles. Hiei actually growls and takes a step forward, aura beginning to show as a faint purple flame licking the air around him.

"My name is Kurama," the fox-human interrupts smoothly, Corbeau releasing Kohaku's hand and turning towards him. "This is Hiei, Kohaku, and Kuwabara. Our sixth member is Aislin, who seems to still be standing in line."

"Hmm, the restrictive seals they place on anyone A-class or higher are annoying," the male sighs, tugging at one. "They itch abominably."

"Quit whining, Raven, and get your ass to your own team before they do something to embarrass you," Aislin snaps, walking up with a look of utter disgust on her face. "Honestly, all this primping and preening you do is absolutely ridiculous, even for a demon from France."

"Mam'selle, please," Corbeau places a hand on his chest in the utmost picture of offended dignity. "I do not 'primp' as you so put it."

"Then get lost." Extruding an air of wounded pride Corbeau stalks off, much to Kohaku's relief.

"Thanks, Aislin."

"No problem, wolf-girl. People like him get on my nerves." A joyous screech and something impacts with Kohaku with a squeal.

"Oh, my gosh! It's you! It's you it's you it's you! I can't believe it!"

"Ack! Help! I'm getting attacked by a rampaging Cassie! Get offa me, Songbird!" The petite little brunette drops off of her friend's back and grins up at her startled friend. "Cassie, what are you doing here??"

"Class project," is the cheery reply, a camera and pad of paper being thrust under the taller girl's nose. "Document one important event in a friend's life. Plus I get to satisfy my own curiosity at the same time!"

Kohaku rolls her eyes. "My bright little singer, is anyone else here?"

The green-eyed girl appears to consider, twirling a lock of hair around a finger. Yusuke and Kuwabara both have to restrain themselves from picking her up and going 'coo'. "Um…the lovebirds should be around here somewhere, I think. Gods if I know where, though."

Yusuke coughs. "The love…birds?"

"Yo, Candy-candy!" Kohaku turns and grins to see her other two friends sauntering up arm in arm, dressed in the usual Glitter-Goth fashion. Aislin and Kurama stare. The taller of the two is almost a mirror image of their lost friend, Kuronue. "What's hanging, my fine furry friend?"

"Yo, Feathers! My hand's what's hangin'! Slip me some skin, Luke!" Laughing, the three high five each other. "Man, all we need is Ally and my dream's gonna start replaying itself!"

"Nah, she's got a date with a transfer student from Germany and studying for finals to do." The sun-bleached blond boy with light violet eyes shrugs after his comment. "We're here 'cause Luke's got a cousin in the Tournament and his family wanted to cheer him on. How about you?"

"I'm fighting."

"EHH??" Three pairs of wide eyes stare at the wolf-girl. "Whaddya mean, fighting??" "Are you crazy??" "Someone check the girl's temp, I think she's running a fever!"

"All right, that's enough," Kohaku growls half-heartedly, batting the joking hands away. "I'm as sane as I was when I left. Admitted, that's not very, but I'm serious about this. But why are you here, really? You're all human and nowhere near the fighter I was before these guys got a hold of me, this place is dangerous for pureblooded mortals."

"'Pureblooded'?" Luke looks offended. "I'll have you know I'm an eighth bat demon, thank you very much!"

"Half-blood sparrow," Cassie chirps--literally. Kohaku slowly looks over at Craig, who grins.

"Yeah, I can't compete. Guilty as charged."

"And you guys didn't tell me…why?"

"If you didn't know about your own heritage, we weren't gonna be the ones to tell you. 'Sides, the Powers That Be woulda been furious if we'd been wrong and you did turn out to be human." Luke slings his arm across Kohaku's shoulders and ruffles her blue-striped bangs. "But! We were wrong and you're a pretty wolf demon, according to my father. He's Koumori Michael, Enzeru-sama's top field agent."

"He's your father?" Kurama looks distressed. "Oh, dear. I hope he doesn't try to arrest any of us."

"Huh?" Kohaku blinks. "Arrest us?"

"Rather, Aislin, Hiei, and myself. We were wanted criminals, once upon a time."

Luke bats the air in reassurance. "Ah, don't worry. Koenma already updated your status in the Sates to parolee and employee. Dad ain't gonna slap the cuffs on any of you."

"Hey," Aislin speaks up, "much as I hate to interrupt this reunion, Koto's finally shut up and we can go. I don't know about you, but I'm tired and want to crash. I'll meet you back at the hotel."

"Oi! Wait up! See you guys around--and stay outta trouble!!" Kohaku darts off, following after her team as they head for the hotel and their beds. Her American friends share a skeptical glance from the corners of their eyes before shrugging and wandering off to meet back up with Luke's family.

"Eh, same old Candy."

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That's me, the user of the clichéd plot twists. Yay for realistic dream-sequences!